Spain Restaurant and Toma Bar

Hispanic National Heritage Month is honored between September and October so what better place to appreciate authentic cuisine and culture than at Spain Restaurant & Toma Bar in downtown Tampa. The Castro family emigrated from the northwest coast of Spain in the 1960s to New York where restaurateur Maria Castro got her start as a coat check girl and later moved to Florida and opened Spain Restaurant in 1980. There are not many restaurants that can boast a 40 year track record of success under an original owner and with Spain Restaurant, it is easy to see why they’re an exception.
The location is perfectly suited to cater to the busy office professional on the run as well as the after-hours crowd that continues to bubble in downtown. Whether you’re strolling the Riverwalk or preparing to embark on a cruise, Spain makes for a convenient visit. It’s within walking distance of the Performing Arts Center and Tampa Theatre making it a perfect spot for a pre-show dinner. Speaking of shows, you may just catch one on-site while enjoying your sangria and paella; live music accompanies your dining experience three nights per week as well as a flamenco show one night per month amidst the backdrop of local rotating wall art. This month’s art collection showcases a Day of the Dead theme with black and white photographs of the annual tradition.

Photo of a recent private food tour visit.

You’re likely to find one of the owners in the restaurant at any given time, serving up delicious entrees that have been influenced by Chef Maria Castro’s mother and grandmother for that home-cooked feel. There’s something special about knowing that multiple generations of maternal love have been poured into every bite. Maria’s son-in-law and restaurant co-owner John was kind enough to host my visit and provide me with various samplings from the menu. John left his job as a trader on Wall Street about 8 years ago upon his family’s move to Florida where he has since been involved full-time with the restaurant. Maria’s son Fred is also involved in the daily operations of the business making it a true family affair. Some visitors to the restaurant are able to recall its original days in the 80s and have grown quite attached to the Castro family.

Spain Restaurant is the final stop on Tampa Bay Food Tours which visits weekly; John will typically visit the group’s table to recount the family story with pride. Locals and tourists alike marvel at the flan and warm churro with chocolate sauce, you may even catch tour participants splashing the Spanish hot chocolate into their coffee for an extra edge after they’ve hardly left a crumb on the plate.

The dining menu is extensive with everything from lentil soup to octopus to beef filet. You can start your day with an egg sandwich on Cuban bread for less than a five spot. And those busy professionals I mentioned earlier can grab a lunch special on the go from the hot bar or request an item cooked to order.

Spain will aid in getting your workday behind you via Spanish ciders and fresh mojitos from the full liquor bar along with table service for dinner. You can sample a variety of items on Tapas Tuesday when multiple selections are available for a reduced price. The menu identifies gluten-free options and vegetarians can also enjoy their choice. The kids menu offers Spanish influence along with chicken tenders, ever the staple to appease those little taste buds.

John watched with enthusiasm as I began tasting the wonderful spread that had been placed before me. I kept reminding myself that today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada so my feasting will be considered a show of neighborly solidarity.

First up was the caldo gallego, a warm brothy soup with collards, chorizo, white beans and ham that made for an appropriate appetizer - this dish will certainly be revisited during the approaching chilly days.

John explained that the mojo sauce that adorned the roast pork is made in-house over a span of 9 hours while the pork is pulled by hand. He lovingly reported that Maria frequently tastes the mojo sauce in order to ensure its authenticity. Maria was described as the “hustle” and the “muscle” that keeps the menu offerings true to their roots.

The paella was smooth and flavorful and seamlessly blended shrimp, calamari, mussels, and chorizo.

Then the shrimp ajillo arrived and John beamed that this was one of his favorites. Typically anything with shrimp is my favorite as well so I had no problem agreeing with him on this dish that presents sautéed shrimp atop chunks of garlic and red pepper.

The slow-chicken and yellow rice was some of the best I have ever tasted. The texture of each meat was so soft that chewing was barely warranted and savoring was in full effect.

The last platter to arrive was complete with beef empanadas and hand-rolled ham and bacalao croquettes with house-made aioli and mango chutney. This was my chance to get creative as I executed alternating dunks of each masterpiece into the different sauces. I made no secret of the fact that the beef empanada smothered in mango chutney sauce earned frontrunner status. John then informed me that they make thousands of large empanadas for the Gasparilla Music Fest that takes place each year across the block at Curtis Hixon Park. As a long-time Tampanian, I am slightly embarrassed to say I have never been to GMF though John may have sold me based on the food offerings alone.

When I asked John what makes him the most proud, he took time to explain how much he loves interacting with the people. He is thrilled to see new faces when a baby shower or rehearsal dinner is hosted at the restaurant and he later recognizes a familiar face that becomes a repeat customer. He spoke with a twinkle in his eye that his favorite part is watching someone leave happy.

Address: 513 N Tampa St, Tampa Phone: (813) 223-2831

Menu: tomaspain.com

Reservations: tomaspain.com, opentable.com

Bonus !!! Order from: grubhub.com, seamless.com, doordash.com

Phone: (813) 223-2831

We love visiting our local independent restaurants on our weekly food tours in downtown Tampa & St. Pete and Dunedin.

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